Apparatus for producing clay products



M. LANG APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CLAY PRODUCTS ...ein uuuuuuu ir; Q31.' c

March zo, 41928.

1,663,309 M. LANG' APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CLAY PRODGTS Filed April 11, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f m1- m (LHN 18 1.9 .le l? nveufoz March 20, 19.28.

Y M. LANG APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING` nCLAY PRODUCTS A4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed April -,11. 124

Patented Mar. 20,1928..

UNITED STATES MATTHEW LANG, F AKRON, OHIO.

' APPARATUS FOR Il-RODUCING CLAY PRODUCTS.

Application filed April 11, 1924. Serial No. 705,827.

My invention relates to an apparatus for drying and burning clay products, such as brick, sewer pipe, tile and other Wares, and my general object is to effect the drying and burning of such products in an economical and eiicient Way without manual labor and in a greatly shortened space of time as oompared with present practices. Assuming that brick is the product to` be produced, my

inventive concept involves the handling and treatment of this product, by automatic mechanism including an automatic kiln from'the initial formation of the brick in a green state in a pug mill or brick machine until the burnt or completed brick is loaded into a car or vehicle for transportation. In general, the `sequence of steps consists in first forming the brick by machine; in feedingthe brick continuously from the machine to an endless conveyor of fire pallets; in passing the brick continuously by means of the conveyor through a circuitous lkiln constructed and arranged to first dry-the green bricks and then to burn them while under constant movement; and in finally delivering the completed brick directly into a rallway car for immediate transportation. In Apracticing this method I. utilize an automatic apparatus substantially as hereinafter shown and described and as exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a yplan or top View of the completeapparatus on a greatly reduced scale, and 1t should be understood that this View does not disclose .35 the full or extreme length of the apparatusthat may be used but is only indicative thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion of the kiln on a larger scale. Fig. 8 is a side view of the portion of the kiln shown in Fig.

2. Fig. 4 is al vertical section transversely of the kiln, Fig.'5 is a cross section of the track and its adjustable supporting tie. this view being on a larger scale than Fig. 4.

In practicing my invention, the bricks or other product to be treated may be 4first formed and produced according to any aecepted mode and machine, preferably, by automatio machinery adapted to effect continuous production and discharge of the product. For example, in making bricks I may use a common type of pug mill A, from which the clay will be extruded in the form of a rectangular bar B having the desired M cross section and dimension of the bricks to straight line and deposited successively upon the refractory lire pallets P of an endless tire conveyor D and carried into the mouth or entrance M of a circuitous kiln K which is relatively small in cross section but of great length. The length of this kiln mayvary dependent upon the kind or class of the product beingmade, and in lnaking certain classes of bricks the kiln may be approximately 2500 ft. or more in length. Conveyor l) comprising pallets I moves continuously buty slowly throughout the full length of the kiln, and the bricks B on the pallets are exposed singly and successively to drying, burning, vitrifying and cooling temperatures for predetermined periods of time in their travel through the kiln. Finally the completed bricks emerge in a more or less cool state, from the outlet end O and are automatically shunted'by a stationary intercepting and deflecting bar I from the pallets P to a gravity roller transfer device T which is adapted to deposit the bricks either in la pile or'into a freight car lV for transport to its ultimate destination.l

From the foregoing it will be noted that no hand laborof any kind is resorted to from the beginning to the end of the making of the brick, that is to say, from the time it is produced at the pug mill until the completed brick is loaded into the freight car or dumped in a pile. Thus the bricks are automatically produced and delivered to the conveyor vpallets in a green .stat-e, and automatically carried into the kiln. Thel kiln receives the bricks singly and successively and discharges the finished bricks coincidcntly in the saine way, the kiln being completely charged or loaded with bricks throughout its length, and each brick is separated from the others and constantly exposed to the flames of a series of oil or gas burners G arranged at intervals throughout the major length of kiln K. The temperatures maintained within the kiln may vary dependent upon the kind of ware being reated, and also upon the speed of the conveyor andthe length of the kiln. Heating of the kiln and the products or ware passing therethrough may also be gradually accom*- plished by maintaining different temperatures at different points or within predeter` mined sectional lengths of the kiln, beginning with an exposure at atmospheric temperature and conditions at the entrance, until the temperature is raised -up .to 2000", or even as high as 4000o Vwith certain products, before the product .is discharged automatically. Moreover during the latterperiod of travel of the product through the terminal section of the kiln the temperature may be, lowered and a gradual cooling of the product effected before its automatic discharge and delivery into the open atmosphere. Regulation of the temperatures within the kiln may be effected by control of the valved burners G, and also A'by means of a series of Ventilating fines F and dampers f located at intervals in each section of the circuitous kiln. A main stack S having a motor driven exhaust or suction fan H may also be used at the intake end of the kiln, preferably 100 feet more or less from the entrance M, to re move the moisture-laden air from the in take drying section of the kiln and promote a draft or circulation through' the main part of the kiln, the direction of movement of the heated air within the major length of the kiln being inversely to the travel of the conveyor and product, excepting at the entrance and for a given length of the intake `section up to stack S where a lower temperature is maintained to effect initial drylng of the green product preparatory to its delivery to the hotter zones or sections `where burning and everi' vitrifying results may be obtained. Before the product is automatically discharged from the kilnit is allowed to cool gradually, the outlet section temperatures.

discharged and directly loaded upon a trans* porting vehicle without manual Vlabor and also without incurring delay in the setting and filling of the kiln, in firing the kiln, and in the drawing or unloading of the same. The burning and vi'trifying steps may also be accomplished 'with less laborand within much shorter periods of time than with other methods and apparatus known to me and in common use.

' In loadin the bricks automatically upon pallets P, tie bricksl are shoved one ata time down a slight incline upon the pallets as the conveyor moves slowly onward, and

each brick is deposited upon one edge in slightly spaced yrelation to the preceeding brick which'has been moving forward at a slightly faster speed, the conveyor D movin'g a bit more rapidly than the feed movements of the pug mill or brick machine A.

A stead movement and continuous travel of the en less conveyor D and its pallets P is produced by a series ofclectric motors E and speed reducing power transmitting gears L contained Within a suitable Weatherprotecting housing e arranged at intervals at the side of the kiln. The gearing L for each motor drives a shaft 2-carrying a large gear 3 situated centrally between two rails or tracks 4 4 extending longitudinally within the open bottoni of kiln K. These rails or tracks 'are supported upon cross girders or metal tiesv 5,`the opposite ends of which are adjustably supported by nuts 6 and vertical screws 7 extending upwardly 4from beams 8 resting upon transverse concrete piers' or abutments 9 for the arched kiln K. The tracks 4 may beleveled by the 'adjustable means described, and the conveyor D thereby .caused to travel without interference or friction with the side walls of the kiln, and which side walls are preferably provided with inwardly, extending ledges or ribs 10 adapted to occupy longitudinal channels or grooves 11 within the opposite sides of pallets P. The channels provide a substantially closed labyrinth or irregular passage at each side of the elongated firing chamber'.

12 of kiln K, and the pallets are made of refractoryl inaterial. The superposed pallet sections may be of different refractory characteristics or properties, and the upper section-"13 is preferably removable and replaceable, ed upon a metal bed plate 1'5 having depending brackets carrying separate shafts 16 for separate sets of flanged Wheels 17 adapted to ride on tracks 4. A toothed bar or gear rack 18 is suspended from the shafts 16 centrally'between the brackets and wheels, and these rack bars have the same length as each conveyor section and its pallets P. The rack bars of thesuccessive sections are pivotally connected together by links 19, thereby pro- The bottom section 1.4 is mountviding an endless chain ofoperating -rack I bars which are adapted to be engaged centrally by the large driving gear 3 on each motor-driven unit of the elongated kiln. The conveyor operating units comprise independent electric motors, but the load is.

distributed'and .divided uniformly as the con- A ditions or any giveninstallation may reuire.

The desired firing or burning temperatures are obtained by oil or gas burners Gderiving their supply of oil or gas from a'main pipe 20 supported upon brackets 21 at one side of kiln K, and having controlling valves 22 at each burner G. These burners may be placed to direct the gas into flaring openings 23 formed in either one or both side walls of the kiln above the line of travel of pallets P, and the burners G and their openings 23 may be placed at an inclination relatlvely to the longitudinal medialline of the kiln and conveyortherein, so that the llames from the burnerq will be .directed into the burner chamber 12 to strike the edgeand face of the Segre ated bricks at an angle and to fill the relatlvel small firing chamber 12 completely and ully throughout the course of travel of the bricks.l The intake of air to promote combustion may be regulated by the size of the openings 23, and the size of the irregular passages or labyrinths 11, and the unburnt combustibles or carbon may be permitted to escape atl the Ventilating flues F, which may be opened or closed partly orentirely by their dampers or valves f. Each damper may be set and controlled by a counter-weighted arm 24: and an operating link or rod 25 placed in an accessible position outside of the kiln. The electric motors E may be electrically connected to permit common starting and stopping movements thereof and to divide the load, and different speeds of Aconveyor D may be obtained by settin or shifting the speed change gears L, or 51e gears may be disconnected to render any given motor unit inactive. l Y

What I regardas my invention or discovery and desire to claim, is:

1. An apparatus for making clay products, comprising an arched kilnhaving an open bottom, an endless track and an endless conveyor close to said open bottom, a series or valved burners arranged at intervals longltudinally of the kiln and a series of power units for the conveyor located at intervals Y longitudinally of the kiln.

2. An apparatus for' makingclay products comprsingan arched kiln, an endless track, an endless conve or' riding on said track and a series of valve burners located at intervals longitudinally of the kiln and arranged at an acute angle and opposite to the movement of said conveyor on said track.

'3. An apparatus for making clay products comprising an arched kiln with an open bottom and supported on abutments, an endless A`track leading through vthe lower part of said kiln and supported by said abutments,

Van endlessconveyor supported by said endv at intervals longitudinally of the kiln, and a series ofpower units for driving said endless conveyor at intervals longitudinally of the kiln. Y.

5. An apparatus for making clay products, com rising a kiln having a track extending longltudinally thereof at its bottom, an endless conveyor riding u n said tracks, and means adapted to adJust saidV track and thereb said conveyor relatively tothe Walls of sai kiln.

MATTHEW LANG.

In testimony whereof Iaix'my signature 

